[C38] Dock Lines

[Charles]

I use 3/4 dock lines because I have seen 5/8 mooring lines part during 
2-3 day storms on Lake Champlain (usually the remnants of a hurricane). 
I generally have five dock lines (two on the bow, two spring, and a 
stern line), but I carry two additional long ones for safety and have 
two 55' lines for shore-anchor setups.    I also use older fire hose as 
chaffing gear (fire departments are always cycling out hose), as plastic 
hose keeps in the heat in (the lines actually dry out due to the heat 
generated as the line stretches and contracts).  I can actually post a 
photo of my dual mooring bridle that parted three years ago, which led 
to a frightening chase with a $500 towing bill.  So, I now error on the 
side of keeping my boat just where I left it these days.

Glen,
I would love to see your docking procedure!

Charles Finn
Mighty Quinn #114
Lake Champlain

Glen Robinson wrote:
> During a particularly rough Nov-Dec stay in Marina la Paz, in 1996 we 
> broke five 1/2 dock lines in 4 days. Most fellow sailors were having 
> the same sort of experience.
> After talking to more experienced cruisers, I made 2 fixes, using 5/8" 
> 3-strand nylon with plastic water hose chafe protection spliced into 
> the eyes for the boat cleats:
> 1)  For my every-day, general-use lines, I simply cut the spliced 
> lengths slightly longer than the boat length, heat-sealed and siezed 
> at the running end.  (These lengths provide for tossing and handling 
> by dock-side crew under almost any docking situation).  These lines 
> are still in use on SnowBird, today.
> 2)  For the fitted lines for our particular slip, (again, with plastic 
> water hose chafe protection spliced into the eyes) I installed rubber 
> snubbers, then--measuring the proper length--I spliced aluminum eyes 
> into the dockside ends.  These were secured with short pieces of 1/4" 
> chain, looped around the dock cleat and secured with a clevis through 
> the aluminum eye.   Never have had a dock line failure since.
>  
> As an aside, the new slip lines, bow and stern were run to a dock 
> cleat midships, with 2 midline boat breast lines led to dock cleats 
> forward and aft.  This provided more line stretch & boat movement and 
> eliminated the hard shock of slamming against the end of a short line.
>  
> For those interested, Cupcakes and I also developed a can't-miss 
> docking procedure some may have seen, but of some interest, in any case.
> Advise if you want me to share.
> Glenl
>